North Korea’s successful London Olympic gold medalists and one of their coaches have been handed the title ‘Labor Hero’ and a medal, the ‘Order of the National Flag, 1st Class’.
Chosun Central News Agency (KCNA) reported the news yesterday, revealing that the decision to award the title and medals was made by the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly on the 9th.
There were four North Korean gold medalists in London; two in men’s weightlifting (Om Yun Chol in the 56kg and Kim Un Gak in the 62kg), one in women’s weightlifting (Rim Jong Sim in the women’s 69kg) and one in women’s judo (An Kum Ae in the 52kg). The coach of the 4.25 Athletics Team’s judo squad, Ryu Joo Sung, was also honored.
In addition, North Korea’s two bronze medal winners (Ryang Chun Hwa in women’s 48kg weightlifting and Yang Kyong Il in men’s 55kg freestyle wrestling) received the ‘Order of the National Flag, 1st Class’ but no title.
The title ‘Labor Hero’ was created in 1951, and is awarded to persons who achieve unusual success in fields of the economy, culture or construction. It is one level lower than ‘Hero of the Republic’, which only one sportsperson, 1999 World Athletics Championship women’s marathon winner Jong Song Ok, has ever received.
